Molded bearing for cast door levers

ABSTRACT

A handle construction, as for a door, wherein the handle is of the lever or knob type, preferably, with its hub formed with a socket for receiving a spindle of the door lock or door moving means; the hub having a molded member on its exterior and with a bearing liner which eliminates the normal sloppy fit between the spindle and the handle hub and which provides a good and tight fit between the hub and the spindle, and/or between the handle bearing and rosette.

I United States Patent 1 1 [111 3,762,753

Yulkowski 1 1 Oct. 2, 1973 [54] MOLDED BEARING FOR CAST DOOR 3,295,8711/1967 Naimcr 287/53 H LEVERS 3,498,650 3/1970 Stranger 287/53 H 5 I '2[7 lnventor Leon YUIKOWSkLPOMllL Mich Primary Examiner Marvm A ChampionAssistant Examiner-William F. Pate, 111 [73] Asslgnee. fiddmlrall ockCompany, POlllldC, Atwmey R0ben A Sloman [22] Filed: Feb. 16, 1972 [57]ABSTRACT [21] Appl. No.: 226,764 A handle construction, as for a door,wherein the handle is of the lever or knob type, preferably, with itshub [52] Cl 292/349 287/202 287/53 H formed with a socket for receivinga spindle of the door [5 H P Eosb 3/00 Fmb 2/20 Fwd 1/06 lock or doormoving means; the hub having a molded I [58] Field Of Search 292/347,349, DIG. 38; member on its exterior and wi a bearing liner which287/DIG' 53 H; 74/584; 16/1316- 24 eliminates the normal sloppy fitbetween the spindle and the handle hub and which provides a good and 1References cued tight fit between the hub and the spindle, and/or be-UNITED STATES PATENTS tween the handle bearing and rosette.

1,590,680 6/1926 Gates 292/347 X 3,400,446 9/1968 Yu1kowski.. 292 347 x9 Clam, 7 Drawmg 3,434,752 3/1969 Russell 292/356 3,386,306 6/1968Kenyon 74/548 PATENTEDBBT 21915 n I II II 011/111! 1/ MOLDED BEARING FORCAST DOOR LEVERS GENERAL DESCRIPTION Door handles have hubs withpolygonal sockets receiving spindles of door knobs or the like. In theconventional assembly between a handle shank and a spindle, generallythe socket of the hub is oversized with respect to the spindle,providing a loose fit, and generally requiring set screws to hold thehub and the spindle firmly together to eliminate play.

Generally also, the exterior of the hub is suitably machined, as forexample by being threaded,'and-suitably machined for dimensioning, sothat the hub fits quite closely in the opening of a conventional rosetteand the hub and rosette are maintained firmly in assembly by a clampingnut or other, means.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide amolded metal door handle, particularly in its hub portion, with aninjection molded or cast plastic member, which may be of any suitableplastic material including those commonly known as plastics, but alsoincluding such materials as zinc and aluminum which can be diecast withfacility. Such member has an interior liner portion providing a bearingand a proper fit between an elongated socket in the hub and a spindle,such bearing having its interior surface formed polygonal to fit thespindle and its exterior surface preferably round to fit within therosette.

When such a member is properly formed and particularly when it is madeof material such as plastics, or even diecast, zinc or aluminum, it canbe dimensioned to fit closely on a spindle and by itself, form a firmand grasping and enduring tight fitting connection between the spindleand the hub, of a nature to permit easy assembling of the parts when thedoor lock is installed, and an easy removal of the spindle from the hubwhen desired, yet insuring the retention of a good and tight and firmfit and a grasping fit between the hub and the spindle.

Variations in the form of the member are contemplated and are shown inthe appended drawing in connection with a preferred embodiment and itsmodifica? tions, shown only by way of illustration.

THE DRAWING FIG. 1 fragmentarily shows a handle in elevation.

FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and are views as if on lines 2+2, 3-3, 44 and 5-5 of FIGS.1, l, 3, and 4'respectively.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are enlarged cross sectional fragmentary views of modifiedforms.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIGS. 1 to 5 show a door handle construction 10having a manually graspable portion 12 and a spindle. and rosettereceiving hub portion 14. The hub, preferably of metal, has an elongatedsocket 16 for receiving a spindle and an exterior wall for receiving arosetteand a clamping nut or other means for clamping the hub 14 and arosette together.

The basic form of the invention is shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 and these showthe hub 14 as having a socket 16 in which is a liner portion 22 ofahollow plastic molded member 23, portion 22 having an exterior surfacecomplementing the surface of the socket l6 and a polygonal interiorsurface 25 complementingand receiving and closely fitting a spindle. Theexterior of liner 22 has ridges 21 nesting in corresponding recesses insaid hub to prevent axial removal of the liner.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show modifications, each including, for example, passageas at 20 in hub 14 which connects socket l6 and wall 18, with the liner22 connected by an integral transverse portion 26 to an integralcylindrical exterior portion 28 spaced from and surrounding liner 22 andmolded on hub surface 18.

FIG. 7 shows portion 28 molded with thread 30 for a-rosette clampingnut.

It will be understood that portion 28, whether or not equipped withthreads 30, is cast and dimensioned for properly fitting and receiving arosette. If threads 30 are provided, these will be of proper form forreceiving the threads of a rosette clamping nut.

All of the parts of the member 23, whatever be the modified formemployed, are integral and are integrally molded or cast. In thepreferred form, all of the bearing parts are cast in situ in the hub 14either by any suitable casting method or molding method such asdiecasting or injection molding and may be of any suitable plasticmaterial or material found suitable for the purpose such as diecast,zinc or aluminum or conventional plastic materials, whose selectionforms no part of the present invention which relates itself mainly tothe basic concept of providing a liner and bearing in a hub. Such linerwill provide the bearing and the receiving means for the spindle, and inthe preferred forms, will include an exterior shell 28 for receivingrosettes, and if desired, with threads 30 or other means for cooperatingwith the threads of a rosette clamping nut or other securing device.

Properly dimensioned and formed bearings will be found to provide a firmyet easily separable and easily assemblable grasp between thecomplementary spindle and the hub and between the compelementary rosetteand the hub, where the bearing is provided with shell 28, and withproper coaction between a clamping nut and the bearing where the bearingis provided with shell 28 and thread 30.

The use of the bearing liner 22 between the hub and a spindle provides agood firm and close fit between the hub and the spindle which retainsits grasping quality permanently while permitting easy separation andassembly of the parts.

Another advantage is that the injection molding process, done in a die,is very precise and accurate and eliminatesthe possibility of thespindle hole. being eccentric to the' bearing (which frequently happensin a casting), and also that it automatically adjusts for any angularerror which might exist in the molded metal part.

CONCLUSION Now having described the handle construction hereindisclosed, reference should be had to the claims which follow, whichdetermine the scope of the invention for which protection is heresought.

Iclaim:

l. A handle construction having a manuallygraspable portion and aspindle and rosette reeiving hub:

said hub having an elongated socket for receiving a spidle, and anexterior wall surrounding the socket and adapted to receive asurrounding rosette and a clamping device;

said socket containing a hollow molded member formed withan interiorbearing portion having a polygonal interior surface dimensioned toreceive and fit closely on the spindle, said member having a cylindricalexterior portion, integral with and spaced from the interiorbearing-portion and surrounding the exterior wall of the hub; said hubhaving a passage connecting said socket and said exterior wall; with aconnecting portion of the molded member in said passage between theinterior bearing portion and the exterior portion of the molded 7member.

2. A construction according to claim 1 wherein, the exterior portion isformed with a fastener engaging means. i

3. A construction according to claim 2, said means being threads.

'4. A construction according to claim 1 wherein the member is diecast.

5. A construction according to claim 1 wherein the hub is metal.

6. A construction according to claim 1, wherein the bearing is cast ormolded in and on the hub portion, poured as a liquid and thensolidified.

7. A construction according to claim 1, wherein the bearing is cast ormolded in and on the hub portion, poured as a liquid and thensolidified, and wherein, the exterior portion of the member is moldedwith an external thread for said clamping device.

8. A construction according to claim 1, wherein the bearing is cast ormolded in and on the hub portion, poured as a liquid and thensolidified, and wherein, the exterior portion of the member is moldedwith an external retaining means for said clamping edvice.

9. In the handle construction of claim 1, an external rib on said hollowmolded member interlocked with a corresponding recess in the hub socket.

1. A handle construction having a manually graspable portion and aspindle and rosette reeiving hub: said hub having an elongated socketfor receiving a spindle, and an exterior wall surrounding the socket andadapted to receive a surrounding rosette and a clamping device; saidsocket containing a hollow molded member formed with an interior bearingportion having a polygonal interior surface dimensioned to receive andfit closely on the spindle, said member having a cylindrical exteriorportion, integral with and spaced from the interior bearing portion andsurrounding the exterior wall of the hub; said hub having a passageconnecting said socket and said exterior wall; with a connecting portionof the molded member in said passage between the interior bearingportion and the exterior portion of the molded member.
 2. A constructionaccording to claim 1 wherein, the exterior portion is formed with afastener engaging means.
 3. A coNstruction according to claim 2, saidmeans being threads.
 4. A construction according to claim 1 wherein themember is diecast.
 5. A construction according to claim 1 wherein, thehub is metal.
 6. A construction according to claim 1, wherein thebearing is cast or molded in and on the hub portion, poured as a liquidand then solidified.
 7. A construction according to claim 1, wherein thebearing is cast or molded in and on the hub portion, poured as a liquidand then solidified, and wherein, the exterior portion of the member ismolded with an external thread for said clamping device.
 8. Aconstruction according to claim 1, wherein the bearing is cast or moldedin and on the hub portion, poured as a liquid and then solidified, andwherein, the exterior portion of the member is molded with an externalretaining means for said clamping device.
 9. In the handle constructionof claim 1, an external rib on said hollow molded member interlockedwith a corresponding recess in the hub socket.